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The Effectiveness of the Flu Vaccine

During a special news conference that was held on Thursday, the federal health officials revealed that the flu vaccine is working better than expected. The vaccine is so far showing an effective rate of 25 percent against the H3N2 strain of flu that is known to cause a lot of illnesses and deaths. The revelation was made by the acting director of Centers for Disease Control and prevention, Dr. Anne Schuchat. The preliminary analysis has shown that the effectiveness of the vaccine is about 51 percent in children. The same vaccine registered an overall efficiency of 10 percent against H3N2 in Australia and a significant 17 percent effectiveness in Canada. The analysis of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention will not be ready until the flu season comes to an end, late spring.

During the conference, the secretary of health and human services Alex M. Azar II noted that at least two-thirds of 675 children who passed on between 2010 and 2016 had not received the vaccination in the year they died. This study was published in the journal Pediatrics on Monday. While concluding this portion of the conference, Mr. Alex encouraged individuals to come out in large numbers and receive the vaccine for themselves, the community and their families. He went on to say that his entire family had received the shot, and so had President Donald Trump. Mr. Azar referred to the vaccine as a seatbelt, given that it has registered effectiveness of 39 percent overall and a 59 percent in children.

The figure is a representation of the effectiveness of the vaccine against various strains such as B strains and H1N1. The study intends to put across that taking the flu shots plays a more significant role in preventing any deaths but does not prevent individuals from experiencing aches and sniffles. The ruling government has been criticized by many for allegedly showing little public leadership even as the flu season becomes more dangerous. The news conference that had been announced two hours before it actually happened was interpreted by many as an attempt to remedy the failure. The meeting had the surgeon general known as Dr. Jerome Adams being part of the team that escorted Dr. Schuchat. The director of National Institute for Allergy DR. Anthony S. Fauci was part of the team present at the conference. The dais also hosted Dr. Scott Gottlieb of the Food and Drug Administration.

BJ is the lead editor of Meical Daily Times. Fluent in French and proficient in Spanish and Arabic, he focuses on diseases and conditions. BJ is a graduate of York University In Toronto. When BJ isn't busy writing his next piece, he can often be found running the streets of the GTA.